This image shows slab prep for in-floor radiant heat in progress. Fast forward from the prior image. The small forms have been filled in with cement and the first 2 layers of the ICF blocks are up. We then have poured and filled in those first two courses on the entire perimeter with cement to form a solid foundation. The building footing is now firm and ready to receive the rest of the six courses.
The base has been tamped and leveled properly and a 2 inch rigid foam has been laid to provide a heat and vapor barrier. Next up, we install the rebar grid in which the Pex tubing will be tied according to the various zones established throughout the house. In this photo we have not yet put the tubing in place, but an example can be seen in the garage conversion project in Santa Fe.
This in-floor radiant system will run off of solar hot water panels in a brush less system we have installed for ourselves and others, as seen in this video. We have on every occasion except one, where it was not desired by the client, able to buy used solar hot water panels in good working order. We find that in our part of the world, people will install the systems but upon someone else acquiring a home, are often quick to switch back to on-grid. This opens up great opportunities for us to buy solar hot water panels at a mere fraction of new ones. We can say we deeply enjoy the “reuse” aspect of finding panels we can bring back into a working solar hot water system.
The in-slab plumbing is in place with stub outs in the various places. During this round, once the second row of ICFs has been laid, the electrical will be installed for outlets and other in floor electrical aspects.